Lucia Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 I have a young Columbine (Beaker - due to her pompom hairdo!) who I have had about 3 weeks. (I got her along with a white star and a copper black). I was told that she was at the bottom of the pecking order at the breeders so wasn't as developed as the other two although she was the same age as she had to fight for her food. That was fine, she was perky, healthy and bright. Well they other two have been in lay about a week but Beaker is still not crouching and her comb and wattle are still quite pale. She seems happy and healthy but today I saw her sitting with her tail down and he wings a little down too. She is scratching about and seems happy enough, I checked her over and her vent is fine, eyes are fine, her breath doesn't smell etc. Her crop was pretty empty this evening though whereas everyone elses was full, it didn't feel particularly squishy just like I would expect it to in the morning. I got her on her own and offered her some corn which she pecked at and I put some on a perch (the others don't perch as high as her usually) whcih she ate and her crop felt like it had some food in it at bedtime. Should I be worried? Could it be she was just hungry (she is very submissive and will run away if one of the others comes over when she is eating)? Or is she poorly? Any advice gratefully received as I worry! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I think they are flighty when young. I would put extra feeders in for her, you can get parrot cage cups from the pet shop and maybe put one at her top perch level. At the moment it may be worth making some mash (pellets in warm water left to cool to tepid) and giving it just to her to tempt her and build her up. Was it just the once you saw her with tails and wings down. If she's still doing it she's probably unwell. Have you checked her nostrils for discharge and listened to her breathing they sometimes get a virus during stress from the move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I'd keep observing - if she looks 'busy' and active and is eating treats, then she's probably just a bit nervous of the others. She may be younger than them even though they were all sold as 'point of lay'. Good advice above about an extra feeder, and if your set-up permits, add a branch or something so she can perch out of the way of the others if she wants to get away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucia Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Thanks all, She appears totally healthy, eyes, nose and vent clean not smelly breath etc. I have taken all your advice, she now has a nice high perch and feeders up there and seems brighter today.I also spent some time in the run with them all, so I could make sure she had some peace (kept the other busy with some corn and put hers higher up). Hopefully that will work. I am hestitant to serperate her as I worry that as she is so submissive we will have issues re-introducing her. So we shall just have to keep a close eye on her I think. She seems happy enough, having a good old peck at my clothing to see if I had any treats! Thanks everyone - I'm such a worrier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 She sounds fine then and hopefully as she gets older she'll get more confident and hold her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolly Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Hi Lucia Our new columbine was exactly as you've described when we got her, she's definately the bottom of the pecking order and was more withdrawn than the others for a good few weeks. Extra food and water stations in the run (and the garden when FRing) helped, along with a bit of 'secret' treat feeding to feed her up when the others weren't looking! Now 6 or so weeks on, she's bright, lively and the most inquisitive of the lot so hopefully your girl is just going through the same process and will be fine. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I have lots of coop cups with feed dotted around me WIR so food never becomes a pecking order issue. You have summed up pre-laying Columbine behaviour perfectly, but if my 2 are anything to go by they really blossom in confidence once they start laying. Although then they become completely nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucia Posted April 24, 2011 Author Share Posted April 24, 2011 Well she laid her first egg today - a blue one! She does seem to have a bit of a dirty bottom and I saw her do a dropping that was runny though. She seems bright enough, inquisitive and preening etc. I've been doing the secret treating and also she has her own personal feed station (we have several others dotted around too but noone else seems to have discovered Beakers! I only had to put her on the perch once for her to figure it out!). Is it normal for them to have the squits after laying the first time? Not noticed it before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
